Page:Poems by Frances Fuller Victor.djvu/84

 PALMA.

What tellest thou to heaven,

Thou royal tropic tree?

At morn or noon or even,

Proud dweller by the sea,

What is thy song to heaven?

The homesick heart that fainted

In torrid sun and air,

With peace becomes acquainted

Beholding thee so fair—

With joy becomes acquainted:

And charms itself with fancies

About thy kingly race,

With gay and wild romances

That mimic thee in grace

Of supple, glorious fancies.

I feel thou art not tender,

Scion of sun and sea—

The wild-bird does not render

To thee its minstrelsy—

Fearing thou art not tender:

But calm, serene and saintly,

As highborn things should be, 76